More than 500 people turned out to honor the 16 women selected as the Puget Sound Business Journal's 2013 Women of Influence. Included in their number was Jean Thompson, CEO of Seattle Chocolates, and long-time EO Seattle member.

Emcees Gordon Prouty, Puget Sound Business Journal publisher, and Patti Payne, Business Journal columnist, told the inspirational stories of each woman to the packed ballroom at the Hyatt Regency Bellevue on Wednesday night. Each woman then shared words of advice with the crowd.

Change is a constant in business, which is why an organization’s core values are so important. CEO Leslie Rugaber rediscovered the importance of aligning her personal principles with that of her business’s, and how doing so can create greater success in business and life.